Lexical Summary epiphóskó: To dawn, to begin to grow light Original Word: ἐπιφώσκω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance begin, dawn. A form of epiphauo; to begin to grow light -- begin to dawn, X draw on. see GREEK epiphauo NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom epi and phós Definition to let shine, i.e. to dawn NASB Translation about to begin (1), dawn (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2020: ἐπιφώσκωἐπιφώσκω; (imperfect ἐπεφωσκον); to grow light, to dawn (cf. Buttmann, 68 (60)): Luke 23:54; followed by εἰς, Matthew 28:1, on which see εἰς, A. II. 1. Topical Lexicon Occurrences in the New Testament• Luke 23:54 — “It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was beginning.” The verb marks the instant when night yields to a new period of light. In Luke, that period is the Sabbath; in Matthew, it is the first day of the week that witnesses the Resurrection. Narrative Setting and Chronology Luke places the verb at sunset on Friday. Jewish days begin at sundown (Genesis 1:5), so the “dawning” of the Sabbath takes place in gathering twilight rather than morning light. By contrast, Matthew describes the first rays of Sunday morning, closing the quiet of the Sabbath and opening the dawning of resurrection life. The two uses bookend the Lord’s entombment with a transition from light to darkness and then from darkness back to light, highlighting the completeness of Christ’s redemptive work within the prescribed three-day period (Luke 24:7; 1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Theological Significance of the Dawn Motif 1. Promise Fulfilled Prophetic expectation often portrays salvation as light breaking through darkness (Isaiah 9:2; Malachi 4:2). The Gospel writers place the verb precisely where that promise climaxes—first, when the Sabbath rest begins (anticipating Hebrews 4:9-10), and second, when the true “Sun of righteousness” rises with healing in His wings. 2. New Creation The opening words of Genesis describe light dispelling primordial darkness. Matthew’s placement of the verb on “the first day of the week” intentionally echoes that creation rhythm, signaling that the Resurrection inaugurates a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Revelation 21:5). 3. Eschatological Foreshadowing Just as dawn announces a coming day, these occurrences prefigure the final consummation when “the night is nearly over; the day has drawn near” (Romans 13:12). The historical events thus become harbingers of ultimate restoration. Jewish and Greco-Roman Time Reckoning Understanding first-century calendars clarifies apparent modern tensions in Passion Week chronology. Jewish reckoning divided daylight into twelve hours (John 11:9) and viewed sundown as the threshold of a new date. Romans, however, marked days from midnight to midnight. Luke’s evening “dawn” aligns with Jewish custom, while Matthew’s morning “dawn” sits comfortably in both systems. The Spirit’s inspiration ensures that the Resurrection narrative stands firm under either chronology, safeguarding confidence in Gospel harmony. Christological Implications • Lord of the Sabbath — By concluding His redemptive suffering precisely as the Sabbath “dawns,” Jesus demonstrates authority even over sacred time (Mark 2:28). Pastoral and Liturgical Applications 1. Lord’s Day Worship The early church quickly met “on the first day of the week” (Acts 20:7), framing congregational worship within the continuing remembrance of resurrection dawn. 2. Funeral Comfort The verb offers a picture of gentle transition—darkness giving way to light—mirroring the believer’s passage through death into the presence of Christ (Philippians 1:23). 3. Personal Renewal Prayer and devotion at sunrise recall the empty tomb and encourage believers to anticipate God’s mercies “new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). Related Biblical Imagery • Psalm 130:6 — “My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning.” These texts employ dawn language to cultivate expectant hope, knitting together the Old and New Testaments in unified testimony. Reflective Questions for Discipleship 1. How does the shift from darkness to light in Luke 23:54 and Matthew 28:1 shape your understanding of Christ’s burial and resurrection? The verb’s two strategic appearances illuminate far more than chronological data; they unveil a theological tapestry in which the crucified and risen Lord turns night into everlasting day. Forms and Transliterations επέφωσκε επεφωσκεν ἐπέφωσκεν επεχάρης επεχάρητε επιφωσκουση επιφωσκούση ἐπιφωσκούσῃ επιχαίρει επιχαίροντες επιχαίρων επιχαρείησάν επιχαρή επιχαρής επίχαρμα επιχαρούμεθα επιχαρούνται επίχαρτος επιχαρώσί epephosken epephōsken epéphosken epéphōsken epiphoskouse epiphōskousē epiphoskoúsei epiphōskoúsēiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 28:1 V-PPA-DFSGRK: σαββάτων τῇ ἐπιφωσκούσῃ εἰς μίαν NAS: the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward KJV: of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward INT: Sabbath it being dawn toward [the] first [day] Luke 23:54 V-IIA-3S Strong's Greek 2020 |
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